It's a Nightmare

Chapter Sixteen

Lucas
The next morning, something felt very wrong. I didn't know what. Maybe it was just a feeling, maybe it was the new place, or maybe it was Cory and Topanga standing by the kitchen table when I went in for breakfast. They wore their work clothes, and looked ready to leave. What was going on?

"Lucas," Cory started. He spoke with a soft tone. "We just wanted to speak with you for a moment about...something."

I sucked in a breath, "You're not kicking me out. Are you?"

They were kicking me out. They're kicking me out. I'm being to much trouble. Shitshitshtshitshitshit.

Topanga shook her head rapidly. "No, no, no, no, no. We are NOT kicking you out. Not anytime soon. Why would you think that?"

I let the breath out, "I thought I was being too much trouble. I won't be bad. I promise."

Cory smiled at me, "Don't worry about it. You're wonderful." He paused for a moment. The smile dropped from his face. "Okay, here's the deal... We were wondering if you wanted to visit your father."

I went silent, my mind trying to process what I'd just heard. Visit my father? Father was alive? Was he going to hurt me again? Where was he? So many questions.

"Where...where is Father?" I asked timidly. Cory and Topanga shared a glance.

"He...is in a mental institution. Not far away from here. He's in Oaken Home. He was put there until the hearing."

"That's the most secure mental house in the country!" I said. "It's only for the most dangerous mental patients. Why is Father in there? He shouldn't be in there. He didn't do anything wrong." What was happening? My mind raced.

Cory and Topanga exchanged a glance.

"Your father was diagnosed with depression. It made him angrier then usual and caused his excessive drinking. The doctors believed that the depression led to the abuse."

Licking my lips, I gently brushed the tears from my eyes. They would not see me cry. Father told me that crying was a sign of weakness.

"When can I go?" I asked, clenching my fingernails into my palms.

"We were thinking that you could go, with Riley, because we are not letting you go alone. Topanga will go with you and wait outside while you two visit. You could go right after lunch today and Topanga will pick you guys up a few hours later. Does that sound alright?"

As long as I didn't have to go alone, I was fine with whatever. I said as much.

Cory nodded, "Then it is settled. Lucas: you, Riley and Topanga will go to Oaken Home right after school today. Then you can go to the arcade, if you'd still like too."